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QB1s
Quarterbacks are different.
They have to be prepared to deflect credit to lesser-heralded teammates in good times and lean into the criticism in downtimes.
It’s frequently called the most important position in sports, and really only an elite fast-pitch softball pitcher or a red-hot NHL goalie can directly impact the success of an entire team as a truly great QB1.
And among the truths at the mid-July dog-and-pony show that is SEC Media Days, here’s what caught my eye.
› Hot seat coaches speak differently. It’s false confidence trying to hide the uneasiness.
› The NIL-funded jewelry worn by players who ventured to the A-T-L is flashy. Man, what do you think those watches and diamond-studded numerals the size of mini-hubcaps on those necklaces list for?
› The SEC is flush with some big-time QB1s this year.
The Athletic dropped a quarterback tier ranking for all 136 FBS football programs.
There are 10 in tier 1, and half of them were at SEC media days with LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier at 1, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers at 3, Oklahoma’s John Mather at 4, Florida’s DJ Lagway at 5 and Texas’ Arch Manning at 10.
Somewhat surprising was the ranking — based on interviews with more than 40 college coaches and scouts — for projected starters Ty Simpson at Alabama and Gunner Stockton at Georgia.
Simpson was in Tier 4 and 47 overall, and Stockton was in the same tier and one spot back at 48.
UT’s projected starter Joey Aguilar was ranked 60th, and former UT starter Nico Iamaleava was ranked in the top-20 at 19.
Thoughts?
College football craziness
Yeah, that feels assuredly redundant in our current climate.
And no, this had nothing to do with the lunacy at SEC Media Days, either.
(Side tangents: Check out the daily stuff at Southeastern16 as we chop up the SEC media event each day at noon. Also, Brent Venables seemed extremely excited about his Oklahoma roster in a make-or-break-year for him. And I think Billy Napier feels similarly about his Gators crew.)
No, the next frontier of the constantly changing college football landscape lives currently in College Station, Texas.
That’s where former A&M defensive lineman Shermar Stewart and a first-round pick by Cincinnati last spring is currently residing.
Stewart is in a bitter contract dispute with the Bengals and is working out with his former college team.
His agent now says they could possibly explore challenging the rules that forbid players who declare for the draft but not signing should be able to return to college.
While the idea has Aggies fans salivating — Stewart is a monster — the NFL CBA has language to the extent that Stewart’s draft rights would remain with the Bengals if he played another year in the SEC and re-entered the NFL draft in 2026.
So while Stewart could prompt monster rule changes, it looks like the NFL is already prepared not to have the draft manipulated by players returning to school.
Man, the NFL lawyers are crafty.
I wonder if they got Gary?
Morning glory
Got up too early this morning and eagerly found the British Open broadcast on the USA Network.
It’s almost 7 a.m. Eastern and the leaderboard is a mix between crowd favorites — Shane Lowry and Phil Mickelson were in red numbers — and “Who the heck is that guy?” Seriously, someone named J.S. Olesen is leading currently at 4 under. Forgot professional golfer, Jacob Slov Olesen sounds like one of Draco Malfoy’s henchmen in House Slytherin aiming to sabotage Harry Potter.
The course is diabolical.
The rain is on its way. The wind is twisting. The pints are flowing.
I have been blessed to attend more than a few cool sporting events, but on a bucket list that includes Super Bowls, decisive World Series games, the Masters, Olympic gold medal games in baseball and men’s hoops, Final Fours, the Kentucky Derby, the Indy 500 and more, the British Open is high on the list of things I have not done but would love to.
This and that
› So John Malkovich’s villain turn in “Fantastic Four” was cut. It also happened to Kevin Costner in “The Big Chill” as his character — the corpse that drew all those former college friends back together — was removed from the final cut.
› Braves did not lose. That’s a good thing, right?
› Auburn wide receiver Malcolm Simmons was arrested on domestic assault charges. Been a busy stretch for the AU athletics legal team — do they need to get Gary? — since point guard Tahaad Pettiford got pinched for a DUI and linebacker DJ Barker — no relation to Bob (that I am aware of) — was arrested on multiple drug charges last week.
› The ESPYs were last night. I did not watch. Here’s the list of winners. Heard Shane Gillis was a good host.
› Here’s Paschall with a report on Alabama Coach Kalen DeBoer heading into Year 2 with the Tide.
Today’s questions
It’s the ol’ AGT — Anything Goes Thursday — so fire away.
We’ll start with a couple for you:
› Which SEC QB1 do you wish was starting for your favorite team?
› Shouldn’t college football players be allowed to go back to school if they are unhappy with their draft position, like baseball players can?
› Did you watch any of The ESPYs?
As for today, July 17, let’s review:
Donald Sutherland would have been 90 today. What’s on a sneaky great Rushmore for Keifer’s old man?
Go, and remember the mailbag.